Arkansas Valley Soccer Association (AVSA) President Richard Payne asked the Russellville Recreation and Parks Department Commission at its monthly meeting Tuesday to help cover the costs of maintaining the soccer fields when they’re not being used by AVSA.

“There is a lot of play outside of the soccer association’s months,” Payne said. “AVSA would like to see the fields in better shape when it gets to the fall season [Sept. 1].”

He estimated it would cost $1,000 to $1,500 per month to water the grass during the summer months.

Recreation and Parks Director Mack Hollis said there was more at stake.

“It’s not as easy as the city paying the water for soccer,” he said. “What about baseball and softball? What about the electric bill? Where does it stop?”

Payne insisted Hickey Park is “not used as much by the community” and therefore the wear on those fields isn’t as great.

The commission didn’t make a motion concerning the issue, but Hollis said he would “start investigating numbers.”

Hollis said the commission will find out about the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) grant in April.

The commission applied for a $206,000 LWCF grant to cover half the cost of installing lights at the three adult soccer fields.

Hollis said Russellville High School field renovation plans at Hickey Park are “on permanent hold” following the state attorney general’s opinion that they can’t spend funds on non-school property.

The committee passed the 2014 budget and a measure disallowing any organization from using the Hughes Community Center more than three times in one year.